Comics Reviews (June 22nd, 2016)

Nothing wrong with this comic as such - the art is tremendously striking, the themes are interesting. But there's also nothing that particularly draws me in or makes me invested. By the end of the first issue I still wasn't entirely clear on the premise. Will probably read interestingly in trade, but this doesn't look like a single issue sort of thing to me.

Wonder Woman #1

Elsewhere in the wide world of uninspiring #1s, an issue of Wonder Woman that makes no real effort to sell a new premise or direction for the book. Rucka's in typically competent mode doing the things he does well, which is to say soldiers and special ops stuff. He's writing Wonder Woman in much more of a warrior/force of nature mode as opposed to the diplomat of his first run. Which is to say it's lacking what made his first run interesting, and hasn't really added anything to replace it. But it's inoffensive and reasonably solid Wonder Woman, and I'm going to stick around for at least a few issues.

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #8

A perfectly pleasant body swap issue that doesn't really go anywhere, and ends with no real forward momentum into the next issue. Odd and a bit disposable, but still good fun.

The Ultimates #8

A tie-in that's far better than the series it's tying into, this is the first take on the big Thanos fight that kills James Rhodes that's actually been well-done. Good character stuff for Monica and Adam. Needs more Ms. America, of course, but every comic Marvel publishes needs more Ms. America. Art is still gorgeous. All told, a solid issue that makes quite the silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Cry Havoc #6

This is an incredibly intelligent and well-done book, and I look forward to its eventual return (tragically not currently scheduled). I'm going to have to sit down and reread all six issues in one shot, because it's definitely the sort of book that's going to reward that, but its themes and approaches are both genuinely brilliant. The trade's out in August, and I strongly recommend checking it out.

James Bond #7

Ellis starts a new arc here, and at the outset at least it's playing to his strengths much more than the first one did. I'm sure he'll kind of annoy me by throwing in an all-action-sequence issue or abandoning all sense of single issue plotting, because that seems to be what Ellis does on James Bond, but for the moment I'm excited about this book again.

Bitch Planet #8

The most unapologetically social justice oriented book on the stands doubles down on that yet again, and as usual that's not even the best part. The scene with Makoto realizing what's happened to his daughter is heartbreaking, while the scenes between Cam and Whitney are full of twists and humor. Both are long on emotional nuance to boot. Really, the whole book is - utterly fantastic, and one of the most important comics coming out right now.

Ms. Marvel #8

Another Civil War II tie-in, and the closest thign to justification for the entire project's existence. Wilson marches right up to the political issues underlying Civil War II and deals with them head-on. Captain Marvel's side is given a serious treatment, but Wilson's not even pretending that this isn't going to end up firmly on the other side, and makes it perfectly clear why that has to happen given who Kamala is as a character. What this conflict means for her is almost enough to justify the project in the first place, which, given how flatly enraged I was by Civil War II #1, is damn high praise.